Recruiting Liaisons across the Coast Guard are finding new ways to engage in the community to support overall recruiting efforts. They optimize collaboration between Coast Guard Recruiting Command (CGRC) and local units to assist recruiters in increasing exposure of the Coast Guard within the community.
Several recruiting liaisons have set the bar in their innovation and engagement. Here are their recent highlights:
- Petty Officers Rodger Fuerst and Tracey Sherman teamed up at Base Kodiak to get Coast Guard marketing material permanently installed at Kodiak High School. They also hosted a 2023 Career Expo and used local search and rescue videos to highlight the humanitarian aspect unique to our military service.
- Lt. Tyler Pfenninger of the Coast Guard’s Ceremonial Honor Guard engaged with over 2,000 students at the Loudon County aviation military career day and hosted the Loudon County High School JROTC program. He also coordinated his team’s efforts with the recruiting office in Los Angeles to increase presence during Armed Forces Celebration Week events.
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Colby Walters visited ten high schools and four colleges in the California Bay Area, enthusiastically highlighting Coast Guard career opportunities. Walters educated students on key benefits of serving such as medical, dental, Post 9/11 GI Bill, opportunities to travel and more.
- Lt. Blake Palan rallied members from six units in Columbia River - Portland, Oregon, area to host Coast Guard Career Day, hosting over 140 students from nine high schools.
- Lt. j.g. Scott Rogers brought together Sector Virginia, the Maritime Security Response Team, and the Hampton Roads Recruiting Office with a dozen local businesses and organizations to host an event for 1,000 students from Currituck County High School and JP Knapp Early College.
- Petty Officer 1st Class Terrence Young led the Coast Guard’s integration in the Rohnert Park Party at the Plaza raising the visibility of the Service in the community and paving the way for future events. He was also a driving force in the Noyo River Open House which turned up five solid leads for CGRC.
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Lt. Hayley Smith seized on the recruiting opportunity when the Coast Guard Baroque Eagle visited New York in late July. She coordinated with the Eagle for public tours and oversaw arrangements for events including a harbor welcome parade flyover, a recruiting outreach table and a search and rescue demonstration near Pier 17 with Station New York and Air Station Atlantic City.
The Coast Guard is taking an “All Hands” approach to recruiting in order to maximize recruiting efforts.
That’s where the Recruiting Liaison’s come in, as they leverage internal relationships within their unit to expand the outreach of the service by hosting public open houses or engaging community organizations that can build an awareness and appreciation of our Service, on which recruiting can build.
For more information on the Recruiting Liaison program or to find out how you might help as a liaison, visit Recruiting Liaisons | United States Coast Guard (gocoastguard.com).
In the News
Resources
Recruiting Initiative – Coast Guard Recruiting Liaison Program ALCGPSC 084/22
Maximum Efforts to Support Recruiting – ALCOAST 175/22
http://gocoastguard.com/MAX